Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts

Position F28510

Full time Non tenure track position, 12 months beginning fall 2013

To apply: For full consideration, applications are due by April 1, 2013. Review of applications will continue until position is filled.

Department and University:

The mission of the BFA in Photography and Film is to facilitate a comprehensive intellectual, artistic, and technical understanding and use of the mediums of photography and filmmaking.  The specific goals of the BFA in Photography and Film are as follows: to provide a rigorous education in the arts, specifically in photographic and moving image media, and a broad education in other academic subjects; to foster a climate that inspires creativity, intellectual curiosity, freedom of expression and critical thinking; to attract and sustain a faculty of the highest quality by providing an environment conducive to their achieving and maintaining national and international stature; and to foster the admission of highly qualified students including those holding degrees from the numerous community colleges in the nation.

The Department of Photography and Film seeks graduate students whose work challenges the common definitions of photography, film, and video while maintaining the disciplinary integrity of traditional practice. The department works to advance the highest standards of photography and film by providing an artistic community for the development and exchange of progressive visual ideas.

The School of the Arts is comprised of over 3000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels and 15 nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts. U.S. News & World Report ranks the School of the Arts as the top public university art school in the nation. Virginia Commonwealth University is an urban university with over 31,000 students located in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond is two hours south of Washington, D.C. and is situated between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Virginia/North Carolina coast. Richmond is the state capital and home to numerous historic sites; it functions as a visual arts, design and performing arts center regionally and nationally.

Description:

The Department of Photography & Film is seeking a dynamic creative colleague to support the academic, instructional, technical, and facility needs of undergraduates and graduates in the department. The Facilities & Equipment Coordinator will provide services for instruction and departmental activities in and out of the classroom, managing the department’s general facilities, production facilities and equipment cage, and coordinating and supervising student exhibitions throughout the academic year. At the Chair’s discretion, this position will have teaching responsibilities that could range from the sophomore to graduate level and will collaborate with other department faculty on methods to incorporate and utilize the production facilities and other equipment assets in the departmental curriculum, both in the undergraduate and graduate programs. Other duties include: developing and maintaining a student image archive; management of general facilities and equipment, including maintaining all analogue (16mm and 35mm film) and digital cameras and equipment, sound, and lighting equipment, as well as the darkroom, production spaces, and classrooms; coordinating student activities and guest lectures; researching new trends and developments in both Photo and Film and advising on short- and long-term technology needs; installing and approving software updates and troubleshooting software-related computer lab issues; supervising graduate teaching assistant assignments; preparing FAQs and User Guides for equipment as needed and developing and delivering training sessions on specialized equipment; and purchasing and organizing delivery of photo and film materials and equipment. The faculty member should have skills and interests that complement and expand the existing expertise of the faculty and staff in the department.

This is a full time 12-month non tenure track faculty position.

Requirements:

• MFA or equivalent professional experience and training that equates to an MFA
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
• Proficiency in Mac-OS, Microsoft Office, Final Cut Pro, and all Adobe products
• Experience working in a traditional photographic darkroom
• Knowledge and fluency in photography, video and film production and post-production including analogue 35mm still cameras, HD video cameras and editing stations, 16mm motion picture technology, and digital color printers
• Possess a broad understanding of academic affairs related to undergraduate and graduate studies; preferably in an arts higher education environment
• Preferred: Knowledge of and fluency in audio production/post-production technologies including microphones, mixers and digital audio editing; experience supervising graduate students; teaching experience; and an active professional practice

Application Process:

• Required – Letter of Application (PDF);  Curriculum Vitae (PDF); and contact information for three references (PDF) – with file Titled “your last name_first name–References” Including name, title, email, and phone numbers
• Optional – Teaching Philosophy (PDF)
• Optional – Portfolio – 20 images of personal work with images list (all within a single PDF file)
• Optional – Portfolio – 20 images of student work with description of assignment (all within a single PDF file)

Email to: pbthulin@vcu.edu Paul Thulin, Search Committee Chair, phone: 804-828-2787, only electronic applications will be accepted.

To read the full position description, a list of major responsibilities and qualifications, and to learn more about VCUarts, visit: http://arts.vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation or disability.